I listen to little children and they put me in touch with what is real.
They speak the truth even when it is awkward and painful.
They see beauty even in the the face of the clutter and even paucity.
They appreciate goodness specially that which adults cannot or will not see.
All too soon in our lives we lose that innocence of childhood
that sees the truth and live by it
that sees beauty and celebrate it
that see goodness in the face of life’s sordid mess.
The innocence is all too soon is replaced by cynicism
and anger and fear and hatred.
The young and tender heart experiences hurts
and the heart of flesh becomes a heart of stone.
Then, “from within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
“Lord, recreate my heart and make it a heart of flesh once more.”
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
Mark 7:14-15